THE CROWN stays in the Ateneo side of Katipunan as the Women’s Badminton Team takes down the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons to claim the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 Badminton championship earlier today at the Centro Atletico Badminton Center in Quezon City.

In the first singles set of the day, Blue Eagle Jochelle Alvarez took home a much-needed opening victory against UP’s Susmita Ramos. Initially a slow start for Alvarez, she found herself down 0-4 at the start of the first set. She was able to keep it close, cutting the deficit to as low as three points. The points were considerably all for naught as she conceded the first set 14-21. This run of form continued in the second set as Alvarez made multiple net violations early on. However she would later regain control of the game and win the second set 21-16. It was a neck-and-neck affair in the third set that saw Alvarez slowly pull away as the game progressed, eventually sealing the deal and the first team-tie score, 21-16.

Next to take the court for the Blue and White was Ateneo’s team captain Mika De Guzman taking on UP’s Thea Gonzalez. De Guzman started off hot in the first set, after an early 6-0 run. Gonzalez would slowly chip away at the lead at the halfway mark of the set. However, her attempts remained futile as De Guzman would end the set with a double-digit victory, 21-11. Gonzalez would fare better against De Guzman at the start of the second set, with neither player securing a lead above three points. Once the latter half of the set commenced, De Guzman extended her advantage. She would end the set on a 7-0 run and clinch victory in the matchup, 21-11. This result would put Ateneo two points above UP in the team-tie and on the verge of another title.

For the game’s first doubles match, Ateneo’s Missy Cervantes and Angel Valle would suit up to take on UP’s duo of Ramos and Gonzalez. The Blue Eagle pair struggled to keep up with the Fighting Maroons at the start of the first set, being down by five at the halfway point, 6-11. Ramos and Gonzales would continue their onslaught with a 10-0 run, proceeding to take the first set in dominating fashion, 8-21. The second set started with the backs of Ateneo against the wall, as UP was about to reach the halfway mark of the second set on top. Ateneo was able to mount a 5-0 run at the second half of the set, but their Katipunan counterparts doubled down and mustered up a 6-0 run of their own. This increased their advantage and stranglehold on Ateneo, winning the set 16-21, and putting the Fighting Maroons on the team-tie scoreboard, 2-1.

Next to the plate was Ateneo’s aces De Guzman and Jochelle Alvarez squaring off against UP’s Andrea Abalos and Patricia De Dios. The two star Eagles got the ball rolling with a 3-0 advantage to open the scoring. Eventually, the Blue and White charged onwards to win the first set, limiting Abalos and De Dios to a measly seven points in the process, 21-7. De Guzman and Alvarez scored first in the second set and never looked back. Together, they won the second set 21-12, securing Ateneo’s fourth consecutive title.

Team Captain Mika De Guzman made it an effort to congratulate every single member of the team for contributing to their championship bid. “Everyone really put an effort into the 4-peat title. I would like to thank the coaches for preparing us physically and mentally,” she shared.

With that, Ateneo closes off a challenging matchup with silverware in the women’s division, further cementing their legacy as one of the greats in the UAAP. The team continues their run of dominance, standing atop the UAAP Badminton world.